Soviet History Flashcards

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts related to the Soviet Union's history and decline.

Capital Goods

Goods, such as tractors, that Stalin prioritized in production within the Soviet Union.

Collectivization

A system in the Soviet Union where the state controlled the means of production, leading to inefficiencies and production of unwanted goods.

Apparatchiks

Officials in the Soviet Union's Communist party who enjoyed privileges and a higher standard of living compared to ordinary citizens.

Cynicism

A growing feeling among Soviet citizens due to the contradiction between the promised 'workers' paradise' and the reality of economic hardship and corruption.

Black Market

Illegal trade of goods, like Levi's jeans, in the Soviet Union, highlighting corruption and the desire for Western products.

Alienation

A psychological condition caused by the dynamism of capitalism, where people may feel disconnected or out of place due to constant changes.

Illusion

The belief propagated by the Soviet system that citizens lived in an ideal society for workers, contrasting with the realities of daily life.

Economic Stagnation

Economic stagnation and decline in the Soviet Union from the 1960s to the 1990s.

Patronage system

A system where power and influence are distributed based on personal relationships and loyalty, contributing to corruption and stagnation in the Soviet Union.

Mikhail Gorbachev

Leader of the Soviet Union who initiated reforms (Perestroika and Glasnost) to address the country's problems.

Perestroika

Restructuring; Gorbachev's plan to reorganize the Soviet economy to improve efficiency and meet the needs of the people.

Glasnost

Openness; Gorbachev's policy to encourage Soviet citizens to criticize the state and promote transparency.

Gdansk Shipyards

Shipyards in Poland where workers formed a union that evolved into the Solidarity Movement.

Solidarity Movement

A Polish trade union and political movement led by Lech Walesa that challenged the communist government and contributed to the weakening of the Soviet Union.

Lech Walesa

Leader of the Solidarity Movement in Poland.

Velvet Revolution

A non-violent revolution in Czechoslovakia, led by Vaclav Havel, that resulted in the end of communist rule.

Vaclav Havel

A poet and playwright who led the Velvet Revolution in Czechoslovakia.

Berlin Wall

The wall separating East and West Berlin that was torn down in 1989, symbolizing the end of the Cold War and Soviet influence in Eastern Europe.

August Coup

An attempt by hardliners within the Soviet state to remove Gorbachev from power in August 1991.

Boris Yeltsin

The mayor of Moscow who famously stood in front of a tank during the August Coup and helped to defeat the coup plotters.

Shock Therapy

Radical, free-market economic reforms implemented in Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union, leading to privatization of state assets and economic inequality.

Oligarchic Class

A class of wealthy and powerful individuals who gained control of state assets during the privatization process in Russia after the collapse of the Soviet Union.